Agitator



Aug. 2, 1932.

W. K. VOSS AGITATOR Filed March 24. 1930 lux ., Vgl.

1L NIH! HUMA!! Patented Aug. 2, 1932 'WALTER K. VOSS, F DAVENPORT, IOWA.

AGITAT OR .Application led. March The present invention relates to agitators and more in particular to a novel construction of agitator for washing machines or the like provided with a buoyant body portion.

A Among the objects of the present invention are to provide an agitator constructed of material of greater specific gravity than the washing fluid, but made buoyant by rea'- son of the float hamber which allows the lo agitator to oat as it oscillates and swishes the clothes through the washing fluid. rl`he agitator is preferably constructed'of metal or other suitable material of a greater specific gravity than the washing fluid in the tub in which it is operated.v

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide an agitator adapted to be automatically adjusted on the agitator shaft in accordance with the depth of the fluid in the washing machine tub. Another object is to provide a floating agitator construction adapted to be adjustably positioned upon an agitator shaft passing through the bottom of the tub.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an agitator adapted to be slidingly positioned upon the center pole or agitator shaft and readily and easily removed therefrom when desired. In order .to allow for ready removal thereof, the agitator isprovided with a handle member, which, when the agitator is being operated, lie flat thereon and in no way cause inconvenience or hinder the agitator or the washingoperation.

*urther objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy, and ease of assembly, and such further objects, advantages, andcapabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangements o parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and while I have shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions, without departing from the spirit of- 50, my invention.

invention is 'shown as is adapted to` 24,' 1930. Serial No. 438,334.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in vertical cross section through a washing machine tub and the novel construction of agitator. j c

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the 55 agitator construction.

Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Referring more particularly to the drawing, the embodiment selected to illustrate the 00 comprising a washing machine tub or the like 1 provided with a bottom 2, top 3, which is adapted to be provided with hinges or the like for permitting ready opening and closing of the tub, and an agitator or driving shaft 4 passing centrally through the bottom of the tub and extending to a position adjacent the top of the tub. This agitator shaft orl center post is given an oscillatory movement by mechanism not disclosed, and in turn oscillates an agitator 5.

Seated upon the bottom 2 of the tub is a hollow pedestal 6 adapted to encompass the agitator shaft l. Suitably mounted upon the agitator shaft and adapted` to be rotated thereby, is a sleeve 7 provided with longitudinally disposed and oppositely spaced grooves or channels 8. These grooves or channels are adapted to receive longitudinally extending ribs 9 on the hub 10 of the agitator. S0 This construction permits the/ agitator to bodily slide on the sleeve 7 for changing its position to give the maximum washing efficiency.

The hub portion 10 is provided with an 35 enlarged downwardly projecting skirt or annular flange 11 on which are formed or connected a plurality of arms or spokes 12 i provided at their ends with relatively narrow and vertically extending blades or impelling members 13. Formed integrally with or connected to these blades or impelling members at their upper inner edges is an annular ring 14 for strengthening and giving rigidity to the agitator structure. The skirt portion 11 95 prevents clothing or other material in the tub from being caught intermediate the sleeve 7 and hub 10 of the agitator.

The arms or spokes 12 along with the inner edges of the blade or impellmg member 13100 and the annular ring 14 and skirt 11 of the hub, forms a housing or confining means for ousing and seating an annular container or oat chamber 15. As shown more clearly in Fig. 1, this annular container or float is constructed of thin sheet `metal and provided with an air space suiiicient to make the entire agitator buoyant. An upper frame or spider 16 is adapted to be mounted over the float chamber and prevent ready removal thereof. This frame or spider has the end portions 17 of the radiating arms 18 thereof, connected by means of screws or the like 19 to the annular 'ring 14 at the point where the same is formed with or connected to the blades or im elling members 13.

he entire agitator structure is slidable on the sleeve 7 and may be lifted therefrom whenever it is desired. In order to permit its ready removal, the agitator is provided with a handle member 20, 4Vwhich,rvvhen the agitator is being operated, is adapted to lie flat thereon and in no way cause inconvenience or hinder theI agitator or the washing operation. (Y

By reason of the present construction, the entire agitator shifts with the amount of washing fluid that is in the tub(V This shlftin of the agitator is taken care of automatica ly by the floating chamber, and thus a maximum washing eiciency 1s always secured. From the above description and disclosure, it will readily be seen that 1 have provided a novel construction of agitator which is admirably adapted for washing machines and the like.

Having thus disclosed my invention,

I claim: i

1. An agitator for washing machines and the like provided with a driving shaft, comprising a sleeve Vv on said shaft, an impeller adapted to be shifted upon said sleeve and i prrovided with a hub portion, arms radiating om/said hub portion, impelling blades at the extremity of said arms, and a buoyant chamber associated with said impeller for automaticall adjusting the height of the same in acco dance with the depth of washing fluid in the machine.

2. An agitator for washing machlnes and the like provided with a driving shaft, comprising a sleeve on said shaftz an impeller adapted to be shifted upon sald sleeve and rovided with a hub portion, arms radiating om said hub portion, impelling blades at the extremity of said arms, an annular ring connecting said blades, and a buoyant chamber positioned upon said arms and wlthin said ring and blades for automatically adjusting the height of the same in accordance `with the depth of washing iiuid in the ma-- chine.

3. An agitator for washing machines and e provided with a driving shaft, comprising an impeller slidable on said shaft and Lacasse provided With a hub portion, arms radiating from said hub portion, impelling projections at the extremity of said arms, and a float member associated with said impeller for adj usting the height thereof in accordance with the depth of the washing fluid.

4. An agitator for washing machines and the like provided with a driving shaft, comprising an impeller provided with a hub portion, arms radiating from said hub portion, impelling projections at the extremity of said arms, an annular ring connecting said projections, afloat member positioned on said arms and hub portions and within said annular ring, and a frame for the upper portion of said member for preventing ready removal thereof from the impeller.

An agitator for washing machines and f 5. the like provided with a driving shaft, comprising an impeller provided with a hub having a skirt portion, arms radiating from said hub impelling blades at the outer ends of said arms, an annular ring connecting said projections, a float member positioned on said arms and hub portions and within said annular ring, and a frame for the upper portion of said member for preventing ready o removal thereof from the impeller.

6. An agitator'for washing machines and the like provided with a driving shaft, comprising a sleeve on sa'd shaft, an impeller adapted to be shifted on said sleeve and provided with a hub having a skirt portion, arms radiating from said skirt portion, blades at the extremity of said arms, and buoyant means for permitting lioating of said impeller 1n said washing fluid, said skirt pre# venting-clothes that are being washed from A being caught intermediate the impeller and sleeve.

7 An agitator for washing machinesor the like provided with a driving element passing through the bottom of the tub comprising, in combination, an impelling member having a sliding and non-rotative connection with said element and arranged to be slide upwardly from and downwardly onto said element to disassemble or to assemble the parts, said member including a` frame, a buoyant chamber supported thereby, oppositely disposed and upwardly projecting lugs on said frame, Y

and a handle rivotally secured to said lugs to traverse sai impelling member and to lie at u on the upper surface of said buoyant cham er while the machine is operating.

8. agitator for washing machines or the like provided with a driving element passing through the bottom of the tub comprising, in combination, a buoyant impeller mounted on said driving element for sliding movement relative thereto, said parts being so arranged that said impeller may be withdrawn over the end of the shaft when articles are to be placed in the tub, a handle on said lmpeller for removing said impeller from WALTER K. VOSS. 

